As All Black No.1209, Tamaiti Williams will present his first jersey straight to mum and dad, as tribute for everything they've done to help him reach test rugby.
Williams, 22, took the field in Saturday's 35-20 victory over South Africa at Go Media Stadium Mt Smart, capping a rapid rise that saw him become a key cog in the Crusaders outfit that won a seventh title in as many years.
Touching 140kg, Williams stands out for more than one reason, but in his first taste of test rugby, the softly spoken giant didn't look out of place for a second against an imposing Springboks front row.
Now, able to look back on his first taste of international rugby, Williams knows exactly what he wants to do with his first jersey.
"[It's going to] my parents, bro," he said. "My parents are my 'why' - and now my fiance - but my parents, they've been there, they've made a lot of hard decisions for me to be here.
"They deserve it more than me."
Williams' efforts were all the more remarkable for the fact it was his first taste of facing South African opposition.
All of Williams' Super Rugby career has come after the South Africans' 2021 exit from Super rugby, when they joined Europe's elite in the United Rugby Championship.
After a diet solely of facing sides from New Zealand and Australia, Saturday's first test took its toll on the young prop.
"The game's definitely faster, the lungs are blowing," Williams said. "It was fun, man.
"It's my first time playing South Africans, I didn't know what to expect. I'd been told stories all week, it was just fun.
"My head's running right now, but when I sit down with family and friends, and look back on the week, it's definitely special."
